Can someone please help, my bonsai is dying

I would say put it outside and let the soil dry out a little. If I remember correctly these like to be on the dry side then watered again.

I have had ficus in my house for 20+ years. This is true about letting the soil dry out a little. They don't like wet roots and will drop their leaves when over watered. We keep them outside in the summer out of direct sun light and bring them back in during the winter placed by a big window.

http://www.ehow.com/how_9375_care-ficus-benjamina.html nice article which can be applied to your bonsai.
 
I have to agree that Benjamina, the weeping fig, is the most finicky of all the ficus I have ever dealt with. They do not like to be moved much, unless you move them constantly believe it or not. Being inside will dehydrate them severly as Rockm mentioned. Also your air conditioner in 100 degree weather is probably pumping 35 degree air out to keep your home around 70 degrees, chilling your plant in the process and they do not like the cold. They (benjamina) have a lot of negative qualities for a Bonsai, they tend to grow really large leaves, even when outdoors or after being defoliated which either situation on any other Ficus will result in smaller leaf growth. They are also very prone to get weak with changes in water, I noticed this as I travel and take my plants with me. if it were mine I would defoliate it now so it spends energy shooting new growth instead of trying to repair damaged foliage, after defoliating it set it outside in the shade and do not water it for a few days until you notice it needs water, they can stand a drought better than being water logged, another trait of the Benjamina not shared by most other ficus. When it needs water soak it and wait until it needs it again, when it starts to swell new buds move it where it gets half day sun for a week or so and then when it looks good again get it in full sunlight.

I would bet that more than too much or too little water what is hurting that plant, judging by the look of the leaves, the plant has either been exposed to air freshener spray or cooking fumes this tends to poison or clog the foliage of Ficus easily. Those automatic oil spray air fresheners like Airwick and Glade sell tend to coat the foliage which prevents the foliage from "breathing" or allowing them to transpire through the leaves, cooking oils do the same thing too, the things like Pam or any of the non stick sprays as they float through the air landing on your plant.

ed
 
Another important thing when moving the tree outside is you shouldn't take it from being inside and put it directly into a sunny spot. They will get sunburn so to speak. You might want to acclimate it over a weeks time. A little more sun each day. Mine get full sun from about 10:30 am till the sun goes down and we have had a heat wave of 96+ for 2 weeks and the only plants I had that grew were all of my ficus and like weeds I might add. About a dozen being ficus B and a few willow.
 
On our front porch (Where I have my bonsai) gets sun probably from 9:00AM-11:30AM. Is that okay? The lady I got my bonsai from (She has a lot of bonsai's) said that ficus are great for beginners and can live in a window. So thanks for correcting me! Even if this one doesn't live I will know for my next one.

What about my succulent? Is it okay inside? It is doing just fine.

Thanks :)
 
I bet you are right, Edprocoat! We were turtle-sitting and it didn't have a filter so it stunk a lot. My Mom sprayed air freshener in that room (the same room that my bonsai's are kept in).

Thanks!
 
I like your good luck chopstic -). The top 3rd of the tree might already be dead, to find out for sure scratch the bark with finger nail and see if the cambian layer is still green, if it's gray and brown then it's dead and you can clip it off. Clipping off the half dead branch and leaves will help redirecting the tree's engergy toward healthier tissues and generating new buds. I agree don't give it all day sun right away it's too much of a change in the 100 degree heat. Keep in under shade outdoors and slowly increase the sun exposure over time. Ficus likes a good soaking and a good drying process. Misting and small amount of watering every day will kill it.

If you happens to lose that, I can ship you another one if you're in nearby states. Btw, you don't list your location.
 
I will do that, thanks! Thanks for the offer but I live in Idaho:(
 
I just went and did that. Do I take off the dead leaves even if they are on a live branch? More of the tree is alive than I thought. Like an inch down from the very top is alive! I hope it lives. Is my succulent okay inside?

Thanks:)
 
Succulents should be ok. The problem with keeping leafy plants inside is they require humidity to survive and air movement. There is typically less humidity inside a house then there is in a desert.

Check out this site. Great tropical info.
www.bonsaihunk.8m.com

Also try doing a search here for tropical enclosures. Me along with a couple others bring our tropicals inside for the winter as you will have to do also. Might give you some ideas of what we do to keep our trees happy. My enclosure keeps my tropicals almost as happy as if they were outside. But nothing can replace the suns light. Not yet anyway.
 
Cool, thanks! What is the green dot beside your name and my name?
 
green dot means the user is logged in. If you're into Ficus, google up Jerry Meislick's website with lots of good info.
 
Okay, thanks! That is the same link Kevster gave me! Must be a good site if both of you said it was good :)
 
Back
Top Bottom